"Empty Chair" -- The Unfolding Debate about Debates
In many campaigns there exits a meta-debate--a debate about debates--where campaigns spar over enticing or resisting televised encounters. Often the call for debates is as much about occupying the "high ground" or illustrating strategic dexterity than securing actual debates. The Clinton campaign call this week for "a-debate-a-week" from now to March is a different sort. It appears they really want the debates.
This post explores reasons the respective campaigns may want to debate or to avoid debates, including the reasons I conclude: expect more Clinton-Obama encounters.
The meta-debate was underlined today via an open letter from Patti Solis Doyle, Clinton Campaign Manager to David Plouffe, Campaign Manager writes. (Full text of the open letter)
I was disappointed to see that Senator Obama rejected the idea of having more debates given the fact that he and Senator Clinton have had only a single one-on-one debate. I think we can do better and so does Hillary.Senator Clinton believes voters should have more than one opportunity to see the candidates discuss the issues and has accepted five debates between now and March 4th from CNN, MSNBC, WJLA, ABC and Fox News.
To that end, we hope Senator Obama will join Senator Clinton for a debate a week beginning this weekend.
Below the Fold: Handicapping the unfolding debate about the debate:
